Snowmobiler Specific

The Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area is Open to Over-the-Snow Vehicles (including Snowmobiles) for the 2018 winter season on December 15, 2018. We have enough snow depth required for recreating with snowmobiles. The corridor on Hwy 108 is covered with sufficient snow to depart from below People's Gate. See you there!

THIS SNOWPACK SUMMARY EXPIRED ON December 25, 2018 @ 7:01 amSnowpack Summary published on December 23, 2018 @ 7:01 am

Issued by
Ryan Lewthwaite -

bottom line:

Isolated leeward aspects N-E are wind loaded & susceptable to triggering at & near treeline. Although overall the snowpack has gained strength, it will soon change the dynamic as we accumulate new snow in the upcoming days until Christmas. Tune into the forecast for snow totals & descriptions of the avalanche hazards as it unfolds. People's gate is still the preferred snowmobile launch location, as the frozen surface of the road is dicey. Obtaining permits & submitting snow observations is the best way to show support for this motorized public sanctuary!

Avalanche Character 1: Wind Slab

Wind Slab avalanches release naturally during wind events and can be triggered for up to a week after a wind event. They form in lee and cross-loaded terrain features. Avoid them by sticking to wind sheltered or wind scoured areas.

The development of wind slabs has been pronounced on leeward facing aspects N-E. These slabs are gaining strength but are still susceptable to triggering from human travel on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Surface clues such as pillowing, cornice formation, & textureless snow deposits should be recognized as hazardous, especially when cracking or whumphing is observed in your local area. Cornices are still unpredictable & large in size.

Snowpack Discussion

Isolated leeward aspects still hold the potential for wind slab avalanche activity. It may be stubborn to initiate but wind slabs have been found in succession through the upper layers of the pack. Two distinct melt-freeze crusts were found, with the most apparent & reactive 10cm below the snows surface. Facetting below the crust is helping the wind slab to collapse with some hard forces.

Observations have found wind loaded slopes & cornice failures are resulting in small size avalanches. Nearly 10cm of recently deposited snow sits on a melt-freeze crust which is reactive to stability tests with hard force. Facetted snow below this crust has been the catalyst for such failures. A thin wind-skin can be found on the surface snow.

CURRENT CONDITIONSWeather observations from Sonora Pass

0600 temperature:

34 deg. F.

Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:

44 deg. F.

Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:

West

Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:

mph

Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:

mph

New snowfall in the last 24 hours:

0 inches

Total snow depth:

75 inches

weather

Clouds & sporatic snow showers will dominate the atmosphere for the next few days through the holiday. Hopeful accumulations of 6-15" are likely above 7000' with an almost certainty for high winds & possibly rain in low valley areas.

Two-Day Mountain Weather ForecastProduced in partnership with the Reno NWS

This snowpack summary applies only to backcountry areas in the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area. Click here for a map of the area. This snowpack summary describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. This snowpack summary expires in 48 hours unless otherwise noted. The information in this snowpack summary is provided by the USDA Forest Service who is solely responsible for its content.

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